Songs of Love and Loss

Description

Bass Trombone, Piano — Songs of Love and Loss was originally written for bass voice andpiano, and premiered by Bryan Matthews at Juilliard in 1984. Subsequentlyin 2004, I arranged the work for Bass Trombone and Piano for CharlieVernon, who premiered the work at the International Trombone Association Festival at Ithaca College.The poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay, with her beautiful, sometimesenigmatic, and always evocative poetry was the inspiration for the 4 songsof this cycle. The first poem, “The Dream,” is a paean to Love, with heartfelt words embracing the beauty and enduring power of Love. The second poem, “Mariposa,” describes the brief, fleeting life of butterflies, briefly bringing their beauty to the world, then all too soon disappearing, lingering only in our memories and dreams. The third song is a story of life and love, but ends sadly with loss. Life is celebrated, but like the butterflies in the previous song, it too quickly disappears, only to exist in our memories, beautifully, but wistfully. The final song, “A Crown of Bluer Metal” is a song of determination, of rebuilding, of soldiering on despite sadness or tragedy or the whims of life — it is ultimately a poem celebrating the circle of life... enduring, despite all odds.In my transference of the songs to Bass Trombone and Piano, EdnaSt. Vincent Millay’s poetry still rings with every melody, every harmonyand every turn of phrase. It is truly a “Song Without Words”. I madethis arrangement for Charlie Vernon, knowing how his truly beautiful,expressive, and powerful playing would bring this music and the meaningof Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poetry so perfectly to life. “Songs of Love and Loss was originally written for bass voice and piano, and premiered by Bryan Matthews at Juilliard in 1984. Subsequently in 2004, I arranged the work for Bass Trombone and Piano for Charlie Vernon, who premiered the work at the International Trombone Association Festival at Ithaca College. The poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay, with her beautiful, sometimes enigmatic, and always evocative poetry was the inspiration for the four songs of this cycle.” (Eric Ewazen)